Ford has been busy with its trucks lately. First came with the 2021 F-150, which also featured a hybrid model in the lineup. Recently, Ford unveiled the F-150 Raptor as well, and announced one with a V-8 engine coming next year. Then there’s the electric F-150 in the works and we should hear more about it soon. Given how all vehicles are getting electrified, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the Raptor’s next in line.

But, Ford has ruled this out even before the topic got picked up. According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, a higher-up from Ford has made it clear that the Raptor will continue to be a pure internal combustion-engined model.

The publication spoke to Ford F-150’s Program Manager, Tony Greco recently. When asked whether the new Raptor has been developed keeping in mind the hybrid or electric powertrains, he said, “No. We designed and engineered Raptor to be Raptor.” Even though it makes the purist in us happy, this news comes as a bit of a surprise. At a time when every other automaker is investing heavily into electrification when it comes to its off-road products, Ford has been a little quiet.

While a fully-electric F-150 Raptor is a long shot, the Raptor hybrid could’ve been a good idea. The third-gen F-150 Raptor comes with a 3.5-liter, V-6 EcoBoost engine only, and it will have power outputs different from the standard F-150 with the same mill. Unless Ford has to make major structural changes to the body plonking in the new 3.5-liter, V-6 PowerBoost hybrid powertrain. It makes 430 horses and 570 pound-feet of torque. The new Raptor is also expected to make power outputs in the same ballpark. So, is it still a possibility in the future?

Back in September, Jeep announced a plug-in hybrid version of the Wrangler and earlier this week, confirmed its plan to roll out a fully-electric Wrangler, too. Although the F-150 Raptor and the Jeep Wrangler belong to different categories, we could see the same ideation from Jeep being replicated to the Gladiator pickup truck, and in extension, other FCA products like the Ram 1500 TRX, too. The way Jeep is accelerating towards electrification, Ford could lag back and give its rivals an edge in that scenario.

Coming back to the F-Raptor, Ford went to great extents to make it more than just a jacked-up F-150. With the new exhaust system and the huge 37-inch tires, the truck also looks cramped for space, and accommodating even a small battery pack would be a task. Could that be the reason why Ford isn’t willing to build a hybrid Raptor? Only time will tell.